Somber scene before Vegas’ home opener

Updated 10:44 pm, Tuesday, October 10, 2017

The Golden Knights and Coyotes stand during the national anthem, part of a stirring pregame ceremony that honored first responders and victims of last week’s Las Vegas shooting.

The Golden Knights and Coyotes stand during the national anthem, part of a stirring pregame ceremony that honored first responders and victims of last week’s Las Vegas shooting.

Photo: Bruce Bennett

Somber scene before Vegas’ home opener

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Fans arrived on the Las Vegas Strip for an NHL opener Tuesday, but nobody’s mind was entirely on hockey during what should have been a celebratory night and a milestone for Las Vegas.

The Golden Knights’ home opener against the Arizona Coyotes — which the Knights won 5-2 behind James Neal’s two goals — originally was planned as a glamorous, Vegas-style debut featuring a light show and a pregame extravaganza. But after the shooting nine days earlier that resulted in 58 concert-goers being killed, the team modified its plans and dedicated a quieter evening to the victims, the first responders and the survivors.

A stirring pregame video with stark images of Las Vegas and its heroes was played before the Golden Knights took the ice for pregame introductions, each accompanied by a member of the medical and law-enforcement communities. The Coyotes lined up behind the Golden Knights while the crowd roared.

And then the arena illuminated the victims’ names on the ice in gold while counting 58 seconds of painful silence.

Deryk Engelland, a Golden Knights defenseman who moved to Las Vegas several years ago, addressed the crowd.

“Like all of you, I’m proud to call Las Vegas home,” Engelland said. “I met my wife here. My kids were born here, and I know how special the city is. To all the brave first responders that have worked tirelessly and courageously through this whole tragedy, we thank you. To the families and friends of the victims, know that we’ll do everything we can to help you and our city heal. We are Vegas Strong.”

T-Mobile Arena had no ads on the boards around the ice for the opener. Instead, the all-white boards simply displayed the same message: “Vegas Strong.”

Blues 3, Rangers 1: Carl Gunnarsson and Brayden Schenn scored first-period goals to help visiting St. Louis improve to 4-0. After New York dropped to 1-3, left wing Rick Nash was asked if the team was concerned about its start to the season. “There has to be,” Nash said. “There’s definitely an urgency to fix this and start winning some games.”

Predators 6, Flyers 5: Scott Hartnell scored his second goal on a 5-on-3 with 1:17 left to tie it and Filip Forsberg added his second of the game for the winner with 35.6 seconds left for host Nashville. The Predators built an early 3-0 lead, but trailed 5-3 before Forsberg began his team’s comeback with a goal at 7:38 of the third period. Valtteri Filppula scored twice for Philadelphia.

Senators 3, Canucks 2: Mark Stone scored in the fifth round of the shootout as visiting Ottawa, which peppered Vancouver goalie Jacob Markstrom with 42 shots through regulation and overtime, picked up its first victory.

Blackhawks 3, Canadiens 1: Corey Crawford stopped 41 shots and Alex DeBrincat scored his first NHL goal and set up one for Artem Anisimov as Chicago spoiled Montreal’s home opener by dealing the Canadiens their third consecutive loss.

Blue Jackets 2, Hurricanes 1: Sonny Milano scored two goals, including the winner on a breakaway with 22 seconds left in overtime, for visiting Columbus. Sergei Bobrovsky, last season’s Vezina Trophy winner as the NHL’s top goalie, made 37 saves for the Blue Jackets.

Stars 4, Red Wings 2: John Klingberg and Tyler Seguin scored in the first period and Ben Bishop stopped 23 shots as host Dallas picked up its first win.

Briefly: Islanders owner Jon Ledecky said his team will play at Barclays Center in Brooklyn through the end of next season, and the “singular focus” beyond that is for a new arena at Belmont Park just outside the borough of Queens. Ledecky said, “We have the blinders on for Belmont. We’re not looking at other places, other things, other opportunities. We want to make Belmont a reality.” ... The Rangers released former Sharks center Andrew Desjardins, who was with Chicago last season.

NHL champions visit White House

WASHINGTON — After adding to the uproar over NFL players who protest during the national anthem, President Trump stuck mostly to hockey in honoring the Stanley Cup-winning Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday, calling them “true champions and incredible patriots.”

Trump welcomed the Penguins into the Oval Office and celebrated their second consecutive championship in the East Room of the White House. He singled out the achievements of playoff MVP Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Phil Kessel, among others.

Head coach Mike Sullivan, the only member of the team who spoke to reporters after the visit, said “zero” politics came up with Trump behind closed doors.

Associated Press

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